MANILA -- Did you know that the first Filipino to be appointed as World Health Organization (WHO) Director for Programme Management (DPM) in the Western Pacific - the second highest post in the region - is a woman?

She is Dr. Susan Mercado, a prominent figure in public health, who has been working in WHO for 15 years, and a former undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) during different administrations.

But despite her stature, Mercado believes the distinction between men and women still exists: that the former has it relatively easier, while the latter has to work extra.

The reason? For her, it's just how society is.

"It is essentially more difficult for women to move up in any field, even in this day and age where we have a lot of opportunities. But at the end of the day, the male--if you're equal, pantay kayo--merong edge iyan (the male still has an edge). So we [women] have to work twice as hard or three times as hard to get what we want, and we always have to prove ourselves. One has to be driven and one has to be focused so that you could reach what your goal is," Mercado told ABS-CBN News.

"I've seen it, I've experienced it... Men, actually, even at a younger age would become directors. For women, it takes a long time before you become a director. In any field, even in the hospital and so on. It's ingrained, I think, in the way society's organized, whether you're working here or abroad. It's more challenging, it's more difficult for women. So women have to help each other," she added.

Dr. Susan Mercado at work. Courtesy: Susan Mercado 

With decades spent practicing and excelling in her craft, Mercado would like to think that she has gained the respect of her colleagues, no matter the gender.

"I've been in public health practice for more than 30 years total. So I would like to think that I have proven my worth. I know what I'm good at, I know what I'm not good at. And I have expertise in certain areas, like tobacco control, health communication, health promotion. So I know where I stand, and so the respect follows that. So, I think we have to work harder, but I think because we work harder, we're probably better," she said.

HOW TO BE HER 

Mercado welcomed ABS-CBN News to her home one night, preferring the interview to be done there.

Our team was a witness to her tight schedule, which involved presiding over high-level meetings with representatives of WHO-member states, ensuring that goals are achieved in their respective areas.

That's why the Q&A had to be scheduled after work hours--but Mercado's energy is still that of someone who's just about to begin her day.

She said she got the attitude from her social worker mother and doctor father.

"Very early in life, exposed kami ng nanay ko sa pagtulong sa ibang tao. Sa palagay ko nakuha ko iyon sa kanya. Nakuha ko iyong parang disiplina na mag-aral, sa tatay ko. So that came together," she shared.

(Very early in life, my mom exposed us to helping others. I think that's what I got from her. Meanwhile, I followed my father's discipline in studying.)

"I like to direct plays, I like communication, I like understanding audiences, and so on. As a public health doctor, I've been focused on health communication," she said.

Dr. Susan Mercado at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC, with First Secretary and Consul for Economic Affairs Dominic Xavier Imperial (right) and Deputy Chief of Mission Jose Ramon Ascalon Jr. Courtesy: Susan Mercado 

But Mercado initially wanted to become a lawyer - for the same purpose of helping others.

"When I studied in college, I was taking up pre-law. But it was martial law during those days, and my parents discouraged me for going into law. That I always thought I would one day become a lawyer, and be sort of doing things in social justice, parang tinutulungan mo iyong mga kailangan ng tulong (in a way you are also helping those in need)," she said.

At 19 years old, she shifted her focus to the medical field.

"I had a very serious illness, and that changed my mind. So, I decided to go into medicine, instead of going into law. [When] I became a doctor, I didn't think I wanted work in a hospital. But I wanted to work in the community. I graduated in the UP College of Medicine and instead of going into residency, I took a Master's in public health. And I worked in the community. I worked in an urban slum here in Makati for five years in a UNICEF project," she said.

Then, as they say, the rest is history.

Swimming is one of Dr. Susan Mercado's hobbies. She tells ABS-CBN News that she swims every day, and "taking that away" from her will make her "sad". Courtesy: Dr. Susan Mercado 

"I became assistant of [former DOH Secretary] Juan Flavier, so I was his head executive assistant. And then later, I became undersecretary of [former DOH Secretary] Dr. Alberto Romualdez. And from there, I was recruited by the World Health Organization," Mercado shared.

"I served in the World Health Organization for more than 15 years, until I was a director for non-communicable diseases. Most of early work was in tobacco control and in urban health--how do you help poor people who live in cities. And then I ran for regional director couple of years ago. I lost. So I retired, and I was in Hawaii for three years. I was appointed as director for the Hawaii Public Health Institute. And then when the elections opened again here, I decided to run again, and now I'm the deputy," she added.

What was the driving force behind her perseverance to land a position in WHO's Western Pacific region?

"This is about countries vying for the position. So it's not really me as an individual. But the Philippines, of course, is becoming more prominent internationally. Tumakbo ako, pangalawang beses natalo ako ulit. Pero naging kaibigan itong nanalo, (I ran and lost twice. But I became friends with the winner) and we got a long very well. So sabi niya (he said), 'Let's work together.' And so I said, 'Of course.' So I was very, very happy about that because there are a lot of Filipino staff in our regional office," Mercado explained.

"We cover 36 countries and areas, including the big countries - like China, Vietnam, Japan - and the smaller countries - like Palau, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue. I oversee technical programs, and there are five technical directors who are supporting different programs. So everything from communicable disease, non-communicable disease, vaccination, all of that... I make sure that all the programs in the regional office are running well, that our resources are spent properly, and that our staff are equipped and ready to serve in public health," she added.

'JUST BEING ME'

Dr. Susan Mercado's family. In the interview, she says feeding her family on weekends is "one of my greatest pleasures". Courtesy: Susan Mercado

Mercado has been a champion of health communication, tobacco control, and mental health.

But among the many robes she wears, a favorite would be her "ordinary" life--as wife to former Sen. Orly Mercado, and a mother and grandmother.

She also talked fondly about her hobbies, including being a "plantita", a term that was popularized by netizens during the pandemic, referring to someone who has an interest in taking care of plants.

"I'm an ordinary grandmother. I have a 10-year-old grandson and a 1 and 1/2 [year-old] grandson. So I'm a lola. I'm also a mom - I have two kids - and I'm a wife. I like to cook, I like to go to the market. I think feeding my family on the weekend is one of my greatest pleasures. I also like to plant. I am very attached to growing things, so if you give me a pot, I'll make anything growing in it... I think it helps one achieve some level of calmness... I love music, I still love drama plays... And also, I swim every day... If you take me away from swimming, I will be unhappy," she said.

Is there more that a Dr. Susan Mercado would like to achieve?

She smiled, commenting that she finds the question "interesting", before giving her answer--which, of course, still had something to do about planting. 

"I've been asking myself since I've reached a point in my international career that I think that's what I wanted reach. I'm actually going to go into horticulture therapy. It is a field of helping people with mental health issues through planting, gardening. I've seen it in the United States, it's very effective. And I would very much to do that in the Philippines, to start some kind of an institute or some kind of a group that offers that kind of therapy," she shared.

"So that we're not only relying on medicines when we have mental health issues, but you can do things like grow plants, and achieve some level of mindfulness and calmness," she added.

Dr. Susan Mercado enjoys taking care of plants during her free time. Courtesy: Susan Mercado

Whether at work or in her personal life, Mercado believes she has mastered the art of showing her "authentic self".

She leaves these two pieces of advice for women and the general public: find and show your "authentic selves" and "don't get trapped in your social role." 

"Sino ka ba talaga? 'Pag natumbok mo iyon, sino ka, ano iyong galing mo, ano iyong kaya mong ibigay sa mundo, nobody can compete with you, male or female," Mercado said. 

(Who is the real you? Once you discover that--who you are, what your strengths are, what you can offer to the world, nobody can compete with you, male or female.)

"I think I've reached the stage in life where for the most part, it's about just being who I am... It could be anything. If you like to raise children, that's wonderful. A career is not for everybody. Some people naman, they really like to have a career and don't like to have a family - that's also great. So just be who you are... And I would say you do that also as an expression of your gratitude to God. God gave you gifts. You use them for the good and you'll be fine," she shared.

"Marami tayong kayang gawin. Iyon lang, siyempre, 'pag pinakikinggan natin iyong sinasabi ng lipunan: 'Huwag ganyan, huwag ganito. Pagka nag-ganyan ka, baka walang manligaw sa'yo. Pag nag-ganyan ka, baka 'di ka maging successful.' Masyadong maraming ganoon," she added.

(There are many things we can do. Of course, we can listen to what society says--'don't do this or that; if you do this no one will court you, or you won't be successful'. There are too many examples of that.)

"Don't listen to that. Just listen to your own heart."